While writing our first book, The Art of Manliness: Classic Skills and Manners for the Modern Man, we decided to throw a few old-time 19th century slang words into the text just for fun. While scouring old dictionaries for some words that would fit in the book, we came across many others that were beyond awesome but didn't make the cut. Here's a glossary of our favorite manly slang that was tossed about on the streets and saloons back in the day. These colorful words and phrases probably won't ever come back into popular parlance, but they're a real hoot to read through.
The Art of Manliness Dictionary of Manly 19th Century Vernacular
Admiral of the Red: A person whose very red face evinces a fondness for strong potations.
All-overish: Neither sick nor well; the premonitory symptoms of illness. Also the feeling which comes over a man at a critical moment, say just when he is about to u201Cpop the question.u201D Sometimes this is called, u201Cfeeling all-over alike, and touching nowhere.u201D
Anointing: A good beating. A case for the application of salve.
Barking-Iron, or Barker: A pistol. Term used by footpads and thieves generally.
Bellows: The lungs. Bellowser, a blow in the u201Cwind,u201D or pit of the stomach, taking one's breath away.
Bellows to Mend: A person out of breath; especially a pugilist is said to be u201Cbellows to mendu201D when winded.
Blind Monkeys: An imaginary collection at the Zoological Gardens, which are supposed to receive care and attention from persons fitted by nature for such office and for little else. An idle and useless person is often told that he is only fit to lead the Blind Monkeys to evacuate. Another form this elegant conversation takes, is for one man to tell another that he knows of a suitable situation for him. u201CHow much a week? and what to do?u201D are natural questions, and then comes the scathing and sarcastic reply, u201CFive bob a week at the doctor's – you're to stand behind the door and make the patients sick. They won't want no physic when they sees your mug.u201D
Blinker: A blackened eye. Also a hard blow in the eye.
Bone Box. The mouth. Shut your bone box; shut your mouth.
Bully Trap. A brave man with a mild or effeminate appearance, by whom the bullies are frequently taken in.
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Bunch Of Fives. The fist. Pugilistic.
Cat-heads. A woman's breasts. Sea phrase.
Cold Coffee. Misfortune; sometimes varied to COLD Gruel. An unpleasant return for a proffered kindness is sometimes called COLD Coffee. – Sea.
Colt's Tooth. Elderly persons of juvenile tastes are said to have a Colt's Tooth, i.e., a desire to shed their teeth once more, to live life over again.
Crab. To prevent the perfection or execution of any intended matter of business, by saying any thing offensive or unpleasant, is called crabbing it, or throwing a crab; to crab a person, is to use such offensive language or behaviour as will highly displease, or put him in an ill humour.
Cupboard Love. Pretended love to the cook, or any other person, for the sake of a meal. My guts cry cupboard; i.e. I am hungry.
Cut. To renounce acquaintance with any one is to cut him. There are several species of the CUT. Such as the cut direct, the cut indirect, the cut sublime, the cut infernal, etc. The cut direct is to start across the street, at the approach of the obnoxious person, in order to avoid him. The cut indirect is to look another way, and pass without appearing to observe him. The cut sublime is to admire the top of King's College Chapel, or the beauty of the passing clouds, till he is cut of sight. The cut infernal is to analyze the arrangement of your shoe-strings, for the same purpose.
Dash-fire. Vigor, manliness.
Draw the Long Bow. To tell extravagant stories, to exaggerate overmuch; same as u201Cthrow the hatchet.u201D From the extremely wonderful stories which used to be told of the Norman archers, and more subsequently of Indians' skill with the tomahawk.
Drumsticks. Legs. Drumstick cases-pants
Earth Bath. A grave.
Eternity Box. A coffin.
Fart Catcher. A valet or footman, from his walking behind his master or mistress.
Firing A Gun. Introducing a story by head and shoulders. A man, wanting to tell a particular story, said to the company, u201CHark; did you not hear a gun? – but now we are talking of a gun, I will tell you the story of one.u201D
Fimble-Famble. A lame, prevaricating excuse.
Fizzing. First-rate, very good, excellent; synonymous with u201Cstunning.u201D
Flag of Distress. Any overt sign of poverty; the end of a person's shirt when it protrudes through his trousers.
Floorer. A blow sufficiently strong to knock a man down, or bring him to the floor. Often used in reference to sudden and unpleasant news.
Flying Mess. u201CTo be in Flying Mess u201D is a soldier's phrase for being hungry and having to mess where he can.
Follow-me-lads. Curls hanging over a lady's shoulder.
Gentleman of Four Outs. When a vulgar, blustering fellow asserts that he is a gentleman, the retort generally is, u201D Yes, a Gentleman Of Four Outsu201D – that is, without wit, without money, without credit, and without manners.
Go By The Ground. A little short person, man or woman.
Gullyfluff. The waste – coagulated dust, crumbs, and hair – which accumulates imperceptibly in the pockets of schoolboys.
Gunpowder. An old woman.
Half-mourning. To have a black eye from a blow. As distinguished from u201D whole-mourning,u201D two black eyes.
Heavy Wet. Malt liquor – because the more a man drinks of it, the heavier and more stupid he becomes.
Hobbadehoy. A youth who has ceased to regard himself as a boy, and is not yet regarded as a man.
Hogmagundy. The process by which the population is increased.
Holy Water. He loves him as the Devil likes holy water; i.e. hates him mortally.
January 3, 2011
